Tunisia to enhance partnership with China in expanding markets: official

Source: Xinhua 2018-05-16 22:09:44

TUNIS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A Tunisian business official said China should be one of the best trade partners for Tunisian companies in expanding international markets.

The remarks were made by Mohamed Ben Rhouma, president of Tunisian-Chinese Business Council, at an economic forum between the two countries held in the capital Tunis on Tuesday.

"Instead of competitors, Chinese companies are partners," Rhouma said, adding that Chinese firms can enter European markets through Tunisia, which is the first country along the southern coast of the Mediterranean to achieve free trade with the European Union.

In the 1990s, Tunisia signed a free trade agreement with the EU to facilitate economic exchanges between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

He cited the example of possible cooperation in the textile industry, as China boasts technology, funds and a large market, while Tunisia has a cheap labor force and a strategic geographic position.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to connect Asia with the Middle East, Africa and Europe through building a trade and infrastructure network along the ancient trade routes.

"The bilateral cooperation should be strengthened in five areas: policy coordination, interconnection of infrastructure, trade facilitation, financial integration as well as mutual understanding," he said.

Wang also invited Tunisian entrepreneurs to take part in the first China International Import Expo slated for November in Shanghai.

The trade between China and Tunisia reached 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, with Chinese imports from Tunisia surging 42 percent.

Tunisia to enhance partnership with China in expanding markets: official

Source: Xinhua
2018-05-16 22:09:44

TUNIS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A Tunisian business official said China should be one of the best trade partners for Tunisian companies in expanding international markets.

The remarks were made by Mohamed Ben Rhouma, president of Tunisian-Chinese Business Council, at an economic forum between the two countries held in the capital Tunis on Tuesday.

"Instead of competitors, Chinese companies are partners," Rhouma said, adding that Chinese firms can enter European markets through Tunisia, which is the first country along the southern coast of the Mediterranean to achieve free trade with the European Union.

In the 1990s, Tunisia signed a free trade agreement with the EU to facilitate economic exchanges between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

He cited the example of possible cooperation in the textile industry, as China boasts technology, funds and a large market, while Tunisia has a cheap labor force and a strategic geographic position.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to connect Asia with the Middle East, Africa and Europe through building a trade and infrastructure network along the ancient trade routes.

"The bilateral cooperation should be strengthened in five areas: policy coordination, interconnection of infrastructure, trade facilitation, financial integration as well as mutual understanding," he said.

Wang also invited Tunisian entrepreneurs to take part in the first China International Import Expo slated for November in Shanghai.

The trade between China and Tunisia reached 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, with Chinese imports from Tunisia surging 42 percent.